The Tree Doctor

by Prendergast, Daniel; Predergast, Erin

• ISBN13: 9781552977415
• ISBN10: 1552977412
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-09-01
• Publisher: Firefly Books Ltd

Summary

If you are fortunate enough to have trees on your property, this is your ideal manual for caring for them and maintaining them. The Tree Doctor provides invaluable guidance on how to select the right species for every space, whether to choose a shade or flowering tree, what to look for when choosing a tree from a nursery, and when and how to hire qualified experts. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Daniel Prendergast is a professional arborist who has worked for one of North America's largest tree care companies and is a certified member of the International Society of Arboriculture.

Erin Prendergast works at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Table of Contents

The Benefits of Trees	p. 11
Tree Selection and Placement	p. 21
What is a tree?	p. 21
What parts make up a tree?	p. 24
How to choose a healthy tree from a nursery	p. 29
How trees are sold	p. 29
Hardiness rating	p. 32
Important factors to consider when selecting a tree	p. 32
Tree characteristics	p. 35
Planning and design	p. 39
Planting for landscape enhancement and functionality	p. 40
What makes a tree suitable for the city?	p. 43
How you can maintain your street tree	p. 44
Planting and Care After Planting	p. 47
Planting
Soil basics	p. 47
When to plant	p. 48
How to dig a planting hole	p. 49
How to plant	p. 51
Planting trees in aboveground containers	p. 53
Care after planting
Watering	p. 55
Staking	p. 57
Trunk protection	p. 57
Fertilizing	p. 58
Mulch	p. 62
Transplanting mature trees	p. 62
Pruning	p. 65
Reasons for pruning	p. 65
When to prune	p. 67
Before you begin...	p. 67
Pruning tools	p. 70
Proper pruning technique	p. 72
Pruning young trees	p. 73
Pruning mature trees	p. 75
Pruning tips: What not to do	p. 77
Pruning shrubs	p. 78
Diagnosing Plant Problems	p. 85
Biotic and abiotic plant problems	p. 85
How to make a diagnosis	p. 87
Insects	p. 89
Diseases	p. 91
Control measures: Cultural practices	p. 93
Control measures: Alternative pesticides	p. 95
Control measures: Chemical pesticides	p. 96
Protecting Your Trees From Damage	p. 99
Construction and renovation
Prevention of tree injury before and during construction	p. 100
Post-construction repair and maintenance	p. 103
Storm damage and extreme weather conditions
Ensuring tree health throughout the winter	p. 108
When and How to Hire an Arborist	p. 111
Services provided	p. 111
Guidelines for selecting an arborist	p. 118
Contact Information	p. 120
Places and Organizations	p. 124
Glossary	p. 130
References	p. 137
Acknowledgments	p. 140
Index	p. 141
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Chapter 1 THE BENEFITS OF TREES For many of us, trees are a constant force in our lives. They flourish in our backyards, city streets, and neighborhood parks, lending an air of humble nobility to the frenetic pace of our daily routines. In northern climates, the changing characteristics of deciduous trees signal the arrival of new seasons, when blazing foliage of red, orange, and yellow leaves sheds with the approach of winter, and fresh buds and green growth appear during spring, a time of renewed life. In the south, the live oak is a popular and characteristic shade tree, stately and vibrant all year long. Numerous species throughout Canada and the United States, such as the giant Douglas fir of the Pacific Northwest, the flowering magnolia of the Deep South, and the syrup-producing sugar maple of the Northeast are cherished symbols of home, valued for their distinct features, their strength, and their beauty. The International Society of Arboriculture, the largest and most influential organization of its kind, serves the tree care industry as a scientific and educational organization. The ISA has published a brochure on the benefits of trees, which are outlined in this chapter. Tree owners know that the impact of trees on a landscape transcends their size and stature. Trees make life pleasant for us, and have social benefits. Time spent amidst a grove of trees is often relaxing. While painters and writers have been inspired by the aesthetic and spiritual appeal of trees, hospital patients have been known to recover from surgery more quickly when their rooms offered views of trees. The strong ties between people and trees are evident in the resistance of community residents to removing trees to widen streets, and in the valiant efforts of individuals to save large or historic trees. Trees benefit our communities by bringing groups together in neighborhood plantings. We often become personally attached to trees. And why not? Trees are fun -- no play equipment will ever replace a good climbing tree. Trees add color, form, and dimension to our gardens. They are our steadfast companions, lasting for lifetimes. Because of their potential for long life, trees are frequently planted as living memorials, establishing links to our past. Among Earth's longest-lived and largest organisms, many trees can last one to two hundred years, or even longer. The eastern hemlock, for example, can live six hundred to one thousand years. Even smaller trees, considered short-lived, typically survive sixty to eighty years. In addition to providing social benefits, trees alter the environment in which we live by moderating the climate, improving air quality, conserving water, and providing refuge to wildlife. Radiant energy from the sun is absorbed or deflected by leaves on deciduous trees in the summer and is filtered by their branches during the winter. Trees also combat wind speed -- the more compact the foliage on the trees or group of trees, the greater the influence of the windbreak -- and have an impressive ability to muffle noise. Leaves and small branches act as baffles, absorbing and deflecting sound. The downward fall of rain is diverted by trees. Trees intercept water and store some of it, thereby reducing storm runoff and the possibility of flooding. Leaves filter the air we breathe by removing dust and other partiA-cles. Leaves absorb carbon dioxide from the air to form carbohydrates that are used in the woody plants' structure and funcA-tion. In this process, leaves also absorb other air pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. The combined chemA-istry of the thousands of leaves on each tree eliminates an enormous volume of pollutants from the air. After processing all the chemicals, trees give off water and oxygen. A mature maple or oak tree transpires 82 gallons of moisture every twenty-four hours. A great redwood w